AEDs will be installed in 50 ComfortDelGro taxis and 10 minibuses, allowing drivers to act as first responders in medical crises.
60 ComfortDelGro drivers have been trained in the "triangle of life" - first aid, cardiac resuscitation and AED use, and firefighting - and will be informed to relevant crises within 1.5 kilometers of their vehicles via an app.
They will then, ideally, come promptly to provide first aid and stabilize the condition of individuals who require assistance, even before medical personnel arrive.
A person who has had a cardiac arrest, for example, should have a better chance of surviving because of this. The chances of survival for such a person improve by 7% to 10% for every minute spared.
Emergencies may strike at any moment and from anywhere. The training will assist these drivers in becoming first responders and in saving lives.
When he watched an old guy grip his chest and slump to the ground while on his shift ten years ago, Mr Raymond Ong, 61, a driver who took the training, said he regretted not having first aid skills.
"I could not react then because I was not trained. I did not hesitate to join the programme when asked because every life is important."
100 SMRT taxis were the first to be fitted with AEDs in 2015. Following that, 50 cars from the now-defunct HDT Singapore and 50 vehicles from Grab were dispatched.
The 50 AEDs in HDT Singapore's custody have been returned and are currently being redeployed to the 50 ComfortDelGro cabs after the company closed in November last year. The other 10 AEDs have been additionally sponsored by the Singapore Heart Foundation.
From 2015 to July this year, the trained drivers have responded to 167 cardiac arrest cases.
"Remember, every response matters, even if it is performing simple tasks like guiding emergency responders to the casualty or helping to retrieve an AED. I urge all of you to always be ready to respond to the next emergency when activated by the myResponder app. You can make a difference in someone's life."
Madam Kirsty Foo, 61, a ComfortDelGro driver who just finished the course, said she thinks she will be nervous the first time she is pinged on the app. "It is someone's life after all. But I think I will still be able to push it to the back of my mind. I will most definitely respond, no questions asked," she said.
She works the early morning shift, from 2 a.m. to 6.30 a.m., and said it's especially essential for her to be vigilant since people who suffer a heart attack at such hours may not be able to get help.
"Even now, when I drive female passengers, I make sure that they enter the lift to their house before I drive off. This is an extension of what I do."
Cabby V.A. Moorthy, 62, described the four-hour course as "easy" and "interesting."
"I want to demonstrate to society that, regardless of my age, I am capable of saving lives and can prepare and be to the scene as quickly as possible."
More than 96,000 people have downloaded the myResponder app, which informs anyone within 400 meters of a medical emergency or a minor fire nearby.
They have replied to 67% of all instances since the beginning of the year.
First responders are always at the forefront of each incident or disaster, and they ensure the safety and well-being of the population. They are, however, at great danger of being exposed to potentially traumatic situations that pose risk of harm to them or the people under their care.
The role of a first aider/responder is to provide immediate, temporary care to someone who is ill or injured. In the case of basic life support procedures, such as CPR, using an AED or putting someone into the recovery position first aid may be live-saving.
Please refer to our DRSABC ACTION PLAN to find out more on the proper way/system that anyone can follow to administer first aid.
Taking a CPR and first-aid training is usually a smart idea (they are often presented together).
If you've already completed one, especially if it's been a while, consider taking a refresher course in Singapore. It will also help you understand how things are done around here (which may differ from what you are used to).
Our long-standing organization offers a range of in-person and online first-aid courses to bring you up to speed in no time. It's a set of abilities that you hope you'll never need, but that you should learn nevertheless.
Consider taking up our Blended Standard First Aid Course. This popular blended version of the Standard First Aid Course is accredited by the Singapore Resuscitation and First Aid Council (SRFAC) and recognised by the National Registry of Coaches and Singapore Sports Council, the blended Standard First Aid Course covers critical emergency interventions that occur in a multitude of daily scenarios at work, play or school.
Participants will undergo 6 hours of online learning at their own pace, followed by 1 day of practical in class.
When dealing with emergency circumstances, becoming trained in first aid procedures can make you feel more comfortable and confident since you will know the most efficient ways to deal with the problem.
An added benefit of this is that the people around you, be it children, adults and others around you, will also feel more reassured knowing that there are trained people on site.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the application of first aid principles and how they can help you, your organisation and those around you, we offer a comprehensive e-learning courses on first aid.
These are courses which can be accessed at any time to help train you and those around you at times which suit them, developed by experts to assist with practical first aid training.
To find out more about First Aid course:
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Article reference: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/60-comfortdelgro-drivers-get-training-in-first-aid-aed-use-to-join-pool-of-community-first